Improvement in machines for double seaming sheet metal



F. KENN'EY,

Improvement in Machines for Double-Seaming Sheet-Metae.

`Patented Sep. 24, 1872I @waff-fla.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS KENNEY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,547, datedSeptember 24, 1872.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS KENNEY, of Hartford, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Joining Plates of Sheet Metal by a DoubleSeam, of which the following is a specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing, in whichl Figure 1 is a side elevation of themachine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlargedcross-section of the same through the dotted line wx. Fig. 4 is asimilar enlarged cross-section through the line y y. Fig. 5 is across-section of two plates of sheet metal joined by a single seam;77and Fig. 6 is a similar cross-section of two plates of sheet metaljoined by a double seam.

This machine is intended for tinmens use in roofing. This double seamingis now generally done by hand. The sheets of tin, copper, 85e., arefirst prepared for this process by turning up the two parallellengthwise edges to a right angle with the body of the sheet. One edgeis turned up a little higher than the other. This is done by to'ols incommon use,

and it is at this point that my machine takes hold and completes theprocess.

Before describing my machine and its operation I will iirst describe thecompletion of the work by the ordinary hand process. The edges of two ofthese sheets, turned up as described, are placed together, as shown bysheets a` and b in Fig. 3, (not referring now to my machine.) The tinmantakes his mallet and turns the projecting edge of the sheet down overthe edge of sheet b, as shown in Fig. 5. This forms a single seam.77`The tinman again plies his mallet and turns this single seam down intoa double seam, as shown in Fig. 6. My machine-used in twosizes-accomplishes this much more quickly and better; This machine maybe roughly described as a large pair of tongs, one of whose lips isformed by the bar c, which is nearly square in cross-section, being ofthe same shape throughout its entire length, as shown in cross-sectionin Figs. 3 and 4. This bar is attached to the handle d. The two handlesd and e are pivoted together at j. To the end .of the handle eisattached the bar g, which is of the shape in cross-section shown in Fig.3, from the left end-as viewed in Fig. l-to the middle of its lengthwhere it is attached to the handle. From this middle point to the rightend it is of the shape in cross-section shown in Fig. 4. To the upperright-hand corner of the bar c is hinged the formin g-bar t, which is ofthe shape in cross-section, in Fig. 3, from the left end up to nea-r themiddle ofits length. From the right end up to near the middle of itslength it is of the shape in cross-section shown in' Fig. 4.. The bar gextends the whole length of the machine for the purpose of clamping andsteadying the sheets of tin while being turned down. The joining ofthese two formations at the middle of the forming-bar is shown in Figs.l and 2. The letter la indicates a foot piece fastened to theforming-bar, whereby the forming-bar is operatedand the letter mindicates a spiral extension spring which draws back the forming-barafter it has been operated.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The sheets of tin a and b,with their edges turned up, as described hereinbefore, are put together,as shown in Fig. 3. These turnedup edges are then grasped by the righthalf of the tongs, as indicated in Fig. 3. The operator then puts hisfoot upon the foot-piece k, and turning down the forming-bar on the topof the bar g, as outlined in Fig. 3,bends down the projecting edge ofthesheetva, as also outlined in the same ligure. The operator now slidesthe tongs along'till the right half is ready to operate in the mannerjust described on a fresh part of the upturned edge of the sheet a.,when the part just turned down is ready to be operated upon by the righthalf of the tongs, which position of things is shown in Fig. 4. Theoperator again puts his foot on the foot piece k, and again turning downthe forming-bar, the right half of the forming-bar turns the edge of thesheet a straight down, as outlined in Fig. 4, thus completing the singleseam.7 At the same time the left half of theforming-bar has turned downanother part of the edge ofthe sheetaready to be operated upon by theright half of the formin gbar. The tongs are again moved along for thatpurpose, and so on,indef1uitely.

The double seaming is simply a repetistantially as described, for thepurposes set forth.

2. In combination With the parts, as claimed in the last clause, thefoot piece k and spring m, substantially as described.

FRANCIS KENN EY.

Witnesses: v

WM. E. SnuoNDs, HARRlsoN B. FREEMAN.

